New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-02-09
An Adventure With Lions.

u =
the London Field some interesting ex-
perlences with lions in Central South
Africa. In recent issue he de-
scrlbes an exceedingly fortunate days
sport. While riding with a compan-
ion in search of game tor food, his at
tent'on was attracted by the shout
ing OF a number OF Kaf1irs On gallop-
Ing up to them there were cries of IA
hon! lion" "There there close in
front OF you, lying flat on the ground"
Mr.. selous' narrative proceeds: II
instantly saw nina male lion,
crouched perfectly fiat, with his head
on his outstretched paws, and certain.
iy not more than twenty yards from
me. I was too close to feel in
clined to dismount, especially as
l was riding q steady shooting
horse. To rein in, turning my horse
at the same time, and to raise my
rifle was the work OF a. moment. My
horse, however, would not keep per-
fectly still; and as was trying to get
the sight on to the lions nose below
the eyes, I saw him draw in his fore
legs, which had been stretched out un-
der his chest; then his whole body
quivered. I knew what these signs
portended, and that he was on the
point Of charging. Just then I fired,
and made very lucky shot, as, ow-
ing to the slight movements of the
horse, could not get q steady one.
Seeing what was coming, just touch
ed the trigger as the sight crossed the
lions face, and, luck being on my
side, the bullet struck him exactly
between the eyes. 1t drilled g.
small hole through the 'front.'
al bone, where it struck and
! blew off a large piece at the back OF
the brainpan. Death of course, was in
Simultaneous, and I at once set to
work to skin him. He was affair sized
male in the prime OF life. AS soon as
we had skinned him, Laer and again
started on in front, closely followed
by the Kafirs.
awe had just entered the belt of
forest on the further side of which
ran the valley where my camp was
situated, when Laer, who was some
thirty yards in front of me stopped,
and turning around, beckoned to me.
AS | came near, [ said: What is it,
Laer" pts another lion, sir he
answered. 'Where?' asked, dropping
the reins and working as hard as /
{ could to unfold the skin that was
atwisted round my waist, while at
the same time sought everywhere
with my eyes in front OF me.
However, | could not make him out;
but just as l got the skin loose and
let 1t drop to the ground, upjumped
lion with a loud purr some fifty yards
In front OF me, and went off through
the forest as hard as he could. Luck.
lily through the stems OF the trees,
there was but little underground, and
the grass was nothing like so long and
thick as in the valleys, except indeed
at the bases Of the enormous ant-heaps
with which these forests are studded,
where the grass always grows longer
and thicker than anywhere else. AS
the lion made off, | dug my spurs in
= to my horses ribs, and, after a. race
OF three Or four hundred yards. the
lion, finding that he could not get
away from me, stopped suddenly at
one OF the large ant-heaps l have
spoken OF, faced round and stood with
glarine eyes and open mouth. his head
held low between his shoulders, look
ing as savage as he could, growing
hoarsely, and twitching the end of his
tail from side to side. Pulling in NV
horse, tried to fire again from his
back; but he was excited by the gall
lop, or prehaps the growing of the
lion disconnected him, and he would
,not stand still at all. My antagonist
S2oked SO nasty that | scarcely liked
dls'nounting, as WAS pretty close to
him; and when lion is driven to bav
it is impossible to tell atwhat instant
he may make up his mind to charge.
dla.nounted, however. and. taking a.
quick but steady sight, planted a
bullet just between his neck and
shoulder, on receiving which he reared
himself up with a loud roar and fell
over sideways, while I inwar,lly said
( to myself, I've got him. The hon was
| lying half in and half out of the long
grass; but on regaining the saddle
' again looked at the same spot, the
lion was gone! l felt sure had given
MIN a dead shot, and l thought he
must have managed to wriggle himself
into the long grass, a1d might be lying
there dead rode closer, then right
up to the grass, which stood in a patch
round the base OF the 'ant-heap, but
was over six feet in height and was
=; very thick [ could, however, neither
see nor hear amy thing. The sun was
now nearly if not quite down. After
a little hesitation, l decided to take
the bull by the horns, and so, dis
'mounting, walked into the grass. hold
ing my rifle cooked and ready for ac-
ton. [ soon found out that the lion
was not there, either dead or alive, and
the blood track showed where he had
gone out on the other side.
Here, again, the grass WAS short and